Pour 10 - 12 oz. (300 - 355 mL) of water into any clean container or (preferably) a special Sea-Monkey® tank such as the Micro-View Ocean Zoo®.

Distilled or bottled water is recommended. The water should be at room temperature (not straight from the kettle or fresh out of the refrigerator).

• Open Packet #1 “Water Purifier,” pour the entire contents into the water and stir thoroughly until the contents have dissolved.

Your Sea-Monkey® tank should be placed in well lit location.

Avoid places that attract extreme temperature fluctuations such as some window ledges or near vents.

Extreme temperatures will harm your Sea-Monkeys®.

After waiting at least 24 hours, open Packet #2 “Instant Live Eggs.” Add the contents to the purified water and stir thoroughly until the contents have fully dissolved. 

Your Sea-Monkeys® will begin hatching right away, however, they do hatch at different rates of speed due to shell thickness and environmental conditions. Sometimes it can take up to 3 weeks for them all to hatch so be patient.*

*WHERE ARE THEY? (HELPFUL TIPS ON SPOTTING YOUR NEWBORN BABY SEA-MONKEYS®) 

Check that you correctly followed the directions.

Different types of water, temperatures and light sources affect the hatching rate. Check daily looking very closely.

Shine an LED light into the side of the tank. The light will reflect off of the tiny white specks (no bigger than the period at the end of this sentence.) twitching through the water. These are your baby Sea-Monkeys®.

Use a magnifying glass when they are freshly hatched and very small.

Be patient. They are there and you will soon see them.

Begin feeding your Sea-Monkeys® with one level scoop of food from the Sea-Monkey® feeding spoon 1 week after they have begun to hatch.
When the water in the tank is clear, feed your Sea-Monkeys® one level scoop of food from the Sea-Monkey® feeding spoon.

NOTE: A green tinge to the water represents algae growing which is good news.

Algae is the Sea-Monkeys® natural source of food. When algae is present in your tank, there is no need to feed your Sea-Monkeys® from the Growth Food packet.

Sea-Monkeys® should be raised in a place where the temperature is fairly constant. They grow best at warm room temperatures above 70°F (21°C). They will adapt to cooler climates such as those found in Northern Europe and Canada. If raised at lower temperatures, their growth rate will and size may be slightly impeded. This will NOT affect their life-span. They will live just as long as their brothers and sisters raised in warmer temperatures.

Exposure to daylight is helpful. They will enjoy frolicking in the sunlight as long as it doesn’t overheat their water. The light also stimulates green algae or brown diatom growth (live microscopic cells that Sea-Monkeys eat in nature). Green algae (a plant) is especially beneficial because it produce oxygen as well as acting as a great food source.
Consider keeping them under a “grow light” available at many florist and department stores. Grow lights illuminate the water and encourage the growth of algae. They are inexpensive and come in a variety of types and sizes.

All living creatures need oxygen to survive and Sea-Monkeys® are no exception. But how do you get additional oxygen in their water? This can be accomplished in several different ways;

1. The best way to add oxygen to their water is by pouring the entire contents of their tank back and forth into another clean container. Don’t worry about hurting your little friends, they will enjoy the ride and it will give them a breath of fresh air. Weekly aerating sessions are recommended. When algae is present, it will produce oxygen naturally as well as providing a delicious food source.
2. If your Sea-Monkey® kit comes with an aqua-leash or million-bubble air-pump, those are ideal devices to add oxygen to their tank.
3. Stir their water with a sterile plastic spoon, straw, or swizzle stick. This will help but is the least effective way.